The first annual Rad Fest is taking place this May 14 and 15th in Wilmington, North Carolina and has attracted many great bands that have booked to play. While Rad Fest may be in it’s first year, the idea of hosting local, regional festivals goes back decades. Promoter Chason had this to say about his motivation for starting this festival.

Rad Fest started as a small idea: to bring some of my favorite bands and people to the modest port town of Wilmington, North Carolina. This city plays host to a quiet creativity and I have every intention to shake it up! Inspired by the amazing times I’ve experienced at The Fest in Gainesville Florida, I set out to give music nerds an opportunity to share in a carefree two-days of camaraderie and party-hardery. To have so many bands that embody the reason I love music right here in my own town is an overwhelming imagery. If you can have a passion for something that enhances life so much and be surrounded by it for two-days straight, that is the ideal recipe for an amazing experience. Add to that the amazing friends old and new that you get to share it with and I can’t imagine a greater thing. This isn’t a brand new idea, but I’m thrilled to bring that idea here, to my friends and to my town. We’re going to have a great fucking time!

Over the two days of the festival, 5 venues will play host to close to 100 bands. With prices at $25 for a 2-day pass.

For the entire lineup of bands click read more. For more information on Rad Fest and ticket information, click here.

10-4 Eleanor
After The Fall
American Armada
American War
The Anchor
Anchor Arms
Ann Beretta
Annabel
Assassinate the Scientist
Averkiou
Barnaby Jones
Battle!
Blacklist Royals
Black Wine
Captain, We’re Sinking!
Cloak/Dagger
Coffee Project
Colossus
Constrictor
Criminal Culture
Dead to Me
Dirty Tactics
The Dopamines
Dude Jams
The Emotron
Fin Fang Foom
Fossil Arm
Freeman
The Future Now
GDP
Gatorface
Grabass Charlestons
Greenland is Melting
Homemade Handgrenade
How Dare You
imadethismistake
Jon Gaunt
Junior Battles
Landmines
Leatherface
Lemuria
Liquid Limbs
Madison Bloodbath
The Measure (SA)
The Menzingers
Mockingbird Wish Me Luck
Mose Giganticus
Mourning Is For Suckers
Mouthbreather
Museum Mouth
New Bruises
New Mexican Disaster Squad
Night Birds
Ninja Gun
NoMore
None More Black
Nothing In The Dark
Nothington
O Pioneers!!!
One Win Choice
Over Stars and Gutters
P.S. Eliot
PJ Bond
Panthro UK United 13
Photoclub
Polygon
Red City Radio
Red Clay River
Red Collar
Reverse the Curse
The Riot Before
Rob Huddleston and Foundation
RVIVR
The Sainte Catherines
Sakes Alive!!
Senders
Sharks Come Cruisin
Sleepies
The Snips
Something Fierce
Spanish Gamble
The Takers
Tin Armor
Todd Congelliere
Too Many Daves
Two Hand Fools
Underground Railroad to Candyland
Vegan Coke
Very Magic
Virgins
We Are The Union
Worn In Red
Young Livers